A Question For George Williams by Patti Schofler

What have you done in your life that has required the most courage?

International dressage competitor George Williams is also USDF Vice President, member of the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) Board of Directors and Chair of the USEF High Performance Dressage Committee. Williams and the Westfalen mare Rocher represented the United States and placed fifth at the 2003 World Cup Dressage in Göteburg, Sweden. The pair won many other national and international honors. He was Tempel Lipizzans’ resident trainer for 20 years. Today his training, coaching and riding venture, Williams LLC, is based in Middlefield, Ohio.

Our question: What have you done in your life that has required the most courage?

George Williams: It was when I left Tempel Farms in 2000 to move to Gypsy Wood Farms (Ohio) and we ended up getting Rocher.

It was the first time that someone believed in me to the degree that I had to really believe that I could do it. You daydream about someone sponsoring you or think “if I could only get a horse like that.” But when you are first faced with your daydream coming to life, it is pretty daunting in all that it implies. It’s not just the financial investment, but the investment of time and commitment by the people that support you.

This was the kind of moment when you have to believe in yourself and have faith that you can do it. It was a huge step for me. I was in mid-career. I had a family to support and there was a lot at stake in that sense. If I failed, that could affect a lot of people and let a lot of people down.

There have been other things that took courage, like getting on a horse that might scare you a little, but those are temporary and minor by comparison. For me that was the most frightening time. You need to feel prepared so that you’re worthy of the opportunity when it comes along and you can do something with it.


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